Facebook sellers in Rockford and elsewhere in the U.S. are being targeted by scammers using a sly Venmo payment trick. These scams take advantage of the honesty of good sellers and are growing more sophisticated, leaving even savvy users vulnerable to losing hundreds of dollars. If you’re a person who regularly sells something on Facebook Marketplace or groups, it’s essential to know how this scam is done and how you can shield yourself.
The Setup: Nice Buyers with Red Flags
It begins innocently enough. Someone claiming to be a “buyer” contacts you to inquire whether a product you have posted is still for sale. They seem very interested in buying and jump quickly to asking to have it shipped, even though they may be in another state such as California or Texas, for example. The first warning sign. Although shipping requests are not necessarily bad, repeated queries from faraway places in close succession should cause suspicion.
What happens next is usually a strangely phrased exchange full of spelling mistakes, which again indicates the buyer might not be genuine. Even with these red flags, the transaction goes on as usual until the payment.
The Trick: Venmo “Business Account” Request
When the buyer has accepted the price, they request payment through Venmo. They then send back your Venmo name or link, and they say they are employing a business account and require your email address in order to “confirm” the transaction. That is where the scam actually starts.
Soon after you’ve given your email, a phony message dressed up to appear as though it’s from Venmo pops up in your inbox. It says the buyer has paid more than the agreed-upon amount and that in exchange for receiving the money, you need to refund the buyer the “extra” amount or pay a fee to release your account.
The Pressure: Creating a False Sense of Urgency
The email tends to come from a suspicious sender (such as venmopaycustomerservice342@gmail.com) that is not an official Venmo website. However, unless you’re carefully paying attention, the email appears genuine. The email may state you must upgrade your Venmo account to a “business” account and it will tell you that Venmo is freezing your payment until you make the change by returning a percentage of money.
This coercive strategy takes advantage of guilt and pressure, and you end up feeling like you’re stalling the transaction. Some con artists go one step further by continually calling through Facebook Messenger, threatening or pressurizing you to finalize the fake refund.
The Fallout: How Scammers Cash In
If the seller sends money back thinking they’re refunding an overpayment or paying a setup fee they soon find that the initial Venmo payment never occurred. The scammer gets away with the funds, and the seller is stuck with a loss that could amount to hundreds of dollars.
Based on a Reddit user who posted a similar experience, scammers tend to inflate their requests once they notice the seller accommodating. They can ask for extra fees for certificates, cite transaction mistakes, or even ask for a cancellation fee to seal the sale.
Protect Yourself: Recognizing the Warning Signs of a Scam
To protect yourself from these kinds of scams, sellers should do these primary safety guidelines:
- Double verify all emails: Professional payment platforms like Venmo have their own domain (e.g., @venmo.com). Any Gmail or other public domain email is suspicious.
- Never pay or refund to get money: If someone tells you that you need to transfer funds in order to get a payment, it’s a scam.
- Don’t share personal info: Never provide your email, phone number, or financial information unless you are 100% sure the buyer is genuine.
- Stay on established platforms: Employ integrated checkout systems or cash transactions where feasible. Peer-to-peer payment applications are easy but insecure for transactions involving strangers.
Real Stories, Real Losses
In the Rockford case, a local seller narrowly escaped being a victim due to previous online security training. But they weren’t alone. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says online scam, particularly those using peer-to-peer payment apps have become more common and sophisticated. Some victims have lost over $500 in one transaction.
Scammers live on pressure, urgency, and trust. Educate yourself and share the word, and you can help shut down these predators and save others in your community.
Final Thoughts: Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe
Selling items online can be a great way to make extra money, but it’s also fertile ground for fraudsters. Always verify who you’re dealing with, trust your instincts, and never hesitate to walk away from a deal that doesn’t feel right. If you’ve been targeted by a scam or have concerns about a suspicious buyer, report it immediately to the platform and to the BBB’s Scam Tracker.
In an age of convenience in the digital age, a safe dose of skepticism pays. Don’t let a thief turn your side business into an expensive blunder.
